Photographer Lucas Zimmermann’s Contemplative ‘Traffic Lights’ Series

Lucas Zimmermann, a self-taught photographer, explores light and color with his “Traffic Lights” series. The project exists in two separate parts, with “Traffic Lights 2.0” debuting just months ago. In these haunting shots, the photographer offers no human interactivity with the lights, which of course, are intended solely to move individuals from point A to B. Zimmermann photographed these in the place in which he lives and works, in Weimar, Germany.

“The possibility that light is visible in fog fascinates me,” the artist says, in a statement. “The unknown hue of bluish light is like the fog hidden for the human eye, but photography shows us things we otherwise overlook, such as a simple traffic light on the street. An all-known object, which produces a strong effect in an unnatural situation with a simple photographic setup.”

The result is an unexpected and riveting light show, despite its static subject matter. Fog seems to be its own character in these shots, as the mood shifts and colors both blend and separate. The photographer reportedly used 5-to-20-second long exposures to create the images. And white balance was the only attribute manipulated after the photos had been captured.